For such a tiny little smudge of a mark, the comma can frustrate a copyeditor to no end. For example, if a noun is preceded by two or more adjectives, the thoughtful copyeditor can spend minutes deciding whether and where commas should be placed. It's a common editorial dilemma.
Or is it a … [Read more...]

A rabid fan of forensic science shows like Bones, Criminal Minds, and the various CSIs stumbles upon a copy of the National Forensic Journal at the library. Thrilled to dive into some real-world reading connected to his fiction fandom, he cracks open the journal to find an exciting article all about … [Read more...]

When I was young, Schoolhouse Rock's "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here" was my introduction to adverbs. "Bring along your old adjectives," the blond announcer said, "like slow, soft, and sure. We'll fit 'em out with an -ly attachment and make perfectly good adverbs out of 'em." It seemed … [Read more...]

Quite a number of adjectives can be created by adding the suffix -ive to a noun (combat / combative, secret / secretive) or a verb (digest / digestive, impress / impressive). A smaller set of adjectives can be created by adding -ive to what is already an adjective, creating another adjective with a … [Read more...]

I’m going to have a little fun with today’s column. Whether this will be the most fun post you'll ever read or the funnest post you’ll ever read … well, neither will likely be the case. But that sentence illustrates the dilemma I’ll be having fun with today.
The word fun has had a long life as a … [Read more...]

I have a confession to make: I made a reflexive edit in a manuscript based on personal preference. Worse, I then boasted about it online. While this isn’t world ending, it is something copyeditors should strive to avoid. Think of it as a venial sin, rather than a mortal one.
What was the … [Read more...]